Fold-opening machine.



P. F. FLAGGE.

FOLD OPENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0.27, 1914.

Patented NOV. 24, 1914.

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NORRIS PETERS CO" PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTUN. D. C

P. F. FLAGGE.

FOLD OPENING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1914.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914 a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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P. F. FLAGGE.

FOLD OPENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1914.

1 1 1 7,99 1 Patented Nov. 24, 1914,

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THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.

UTED s'rarns PATENT mm.

PHILLIPP F. FLAGGE, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 MILWAUKEECORRU- GATING COMPANY, OF GREENIIELD, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OFWISCONSIN.

FOLD-OPENING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Application filed August 27, 1914. Serial No. 858,885.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILLIP]? F. 'FLAGGE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fold- Opening Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forminga part thereof.

The main object of this invention is to open or spread the closedtransverse folds or joints at the ends of the sections of sheet metaleavestrough and the like, so that the ends of adjoining sections can bereadily entered therein and form tight joints therewith.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts ashereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts inthe several figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section of a machine embodying theinvention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection on the line 33, Fig. 1 Figs. e and 5 are cross sections on thelines 4ll and 55 respectively, Figs. 1 and 2 a part in Fig. 4 beingbroken away; Figs. 6 and 7 are partial sections like or similar to Fig.3, showing the parts of the machine in different positions, andillustrating their. mode of operation; and Fig. 8 is an enlargedsectional view showing a fold as partially opened and left by thespreading blade of the machine.

The machine comprises a suitable bed or frame 1, on which the variousworking parts are mounted. At one end the machine is provided with aholder comprising two parts adapted to clamp or confine between them aneaves-trough section or the like, having a double fold at one end,'oneof these parts being movable toward and from the other. In the presentcase, one part of the holder consists of a head 2, having a convexsemicylindrical face on the under side, fitting the inside of a troughsection. It is supported in a fixed position by a cross bar 3,

to which it is bolted or fastened on the upper side, the cross bar beingsupported adjacent to its ends by posts 4:, which are fastened at theirlower ends in or to the bed or frame. The upper ends of the posts 4; arethreaded, and thecross bar 3 is adjustably secured thereon by nuts 5,whereby the head 2 can be adjusted vertically for sheet metal ofdifferent gage or thickness. The other part of the holder consists of ajaw 6, having a semi-cylindrical concave face approximately fitting theconvex face of the head 2. The jaw 6 is movable vertically toward andfrom the head 2 on guides 7 fastened to and extending upwardly from thebase or frame 1. Adjacent to its inner end the jaw 6 is formed on itsupper side with a semi-annular recess 8, concentric with its concaveface, to receive a double external fold on the end of an eaves-troughsection, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 A shoulder 9, is formed by thisrecess for the outer fold to abut against at its front end- The head, 2is formed in its inner end and adjacent to its upper side, with atransverse groove in which are movably fitted the squared shanks ofinwardly yielding presser pieceslO, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4:. Theouter faces of these presser pieces, which normally project beyond theconvex face of the head2 on the opposite sides thereof and inwardlybeyond its inner end, .are rounded. The shanks of the presser pieces areofiset forwardly at their inner ends, as shown in Fig. 1, and betweenthem is inserted a spiral spring 11, their outward movement beinglimited by the engagement of the offset ends of the shanks withshoulders at the ends of the central portion of the groove, which isdeeper than the outer portions thereof. The shanks of the presser pieces'10 and the spring 11 are held in place by a cover plate 12, fastened tothe end of the head 2. A reciprocating head 13, guided betweenlongitudinal ways 1e, on the base or frame 1, is movable toward and fromthe inner end of the holder, and is provided at the end adjacent theretowith a concave seat in with a crank 19, which is ournaled in bearings 20on the base or frame 1, adjacent to the end opposite the holder. Thepitman 13 has a lost motion connection with the head 13, which mayconsist as shown, of a pin 21, passing through the head of the pitman,in which it is secured by a bol into longitudinal slots 23, inupstanding parallel ribs or walls 2-1; on the head.

The jaw G is operated by a longitudinal slide bar guided in a groove orchannel in the under side of the head 13 on the bed or frame 1, andprovided adjacent to its front end with a hardened steel block 26,formed with inclines on its upper side adapted to work withcorresponding inclines on the under side of the jaw, as shown in Figs.3, 6 and 7 i'kdjacent to its rear end the slide bar 25 is formed orprovided with two teeth or lugs 27, which project upwardly therefromthrough a longitudinal slot 23 in the head 13, and between which thehead 29 of the bolt 22 works, preferably with a certain amount of playor lost motion.

The crank shaft is provided with a loose gear 30, or other rotarydriver, loosely mounted thereon, and with a clutch 31, fixed on saidshaft and having a spring actuated pin or dog adapted when released, tobe thrust by its spring into engagement with the hub of the gear ordriver.

A trip, which may consist of a bar guided in a bracket 34- on the bed orframe 1, and projecting normally at one end, which is formed with anincline, into a peripheral groove in the clutch 31, by engagement with anotch in the pin or dog 32 withdraws and holds said pin or dog out ofengagement with the gear 30, as shown in Fig. 1. At its opposite orfront end the trip bar 33 is connected with one arm of a lever 35,fulcrumed on the base or frame 1, its other arm being connected by a rod36 with a movable stop or part 37, which is hinged or pivoted to thebase or frame 1, and extends upwardly therefrom adjacent to the inner orrear end of the holder. The stop or part 37 is cut away on the upperside to clear the blade 13 and permit its advance movement, ashereinafter explained. The trip bar 33 and the stop 37 are held in theirnormal positions as shown in Fig. 1, by a spring 33 connecting one armof the lever 35 with the base or frame 1. The forward movement of thestop 37 and the rearward movement of the trip bar 33 are limited by stoppins or projections 39, which project rearwardly from the jaw 6 and withwhich the stop 37 engages when it is swung forward.

A brake wheel or drum 10, fixed on the crank shaft, and a brake band-11, fastened to the base or frame 1 and passing around said wheel ordrum, prevent overthrow of the crank shaft by its momentum when theclutch pin 32 is withdrawn by the trip 33 from engagement with the gearor driver 30.

In the operation of the machine, the gear or driver 30 being constantlyrotated, a trough section 12 or the like is inserted with the end havingthe double fold foxemost between the head 2 and jaw 6 of the holder, andpushed against the pivoted stop 37, which is turned backward, as shownin Fig. 6, withdrmving the trip 33 and releasing the clutch pin or dog32. The clutch 31 being locked by the pin or dog 32 to the gear ordriver 30, the crank 19 is turned one revolution. In the forwardmovement of the pit man 18 the bolt head or tooth 29 on its front headis first carried into engagement with the front tooth or projection 27on the slide bar 25, thrusting the block 26 with its inclines forwardunderneath the jaw 6, which is thus forced upwardly against the bottomof the trough section or the like, thereby clamping or confining itagainst the head :2 of the holder, as shown in Fig. 6, with the fold4113 in the recess 8. The cross pin 21 is then brought into engagementwith the front ends of the slots 23, and pushes the head 13 with theblade 17 forward, the blade passing between the two outer leaves orlayers of the fold and partially spreading or opening the fold, as shownin Figs. 7 and 3. The presser pieces 10 thrust and hold the sides of thetrough section or the like outwardly against the concave recessedportion of the jaw 6, and insure the blade 17 properly entering tne fold13. On. the return movement of the pitman 18, the bolt head or tooth 29engaging with the rear tooth 27, withdraws the slide block 26, releasingthe jaw 6, which is thus permitted to drop into its original position,as shown in Fig. 3, and release the trough section. The cross pin 21engaging with the rear ends of the slots 23, withdraws the head 13 andblade 17 rearwardly from the fold 13, leaving it in the shape andcondition shown in Fig. 3. The forward thrust of the blade 17 into thefold -13 is received and resisted by the shoulder 9 of the jaw 6,against which the forward end of the fold abuts. When the jaw 6 isreleased and falls, thereby releasing the trough section, the pivotedstop or part 37 is tipped back forward to its original position, asshown in Fig. 3, by the spring 38 and the trip 33 is thrust backwardinto the path of the clutch pin or dog 32, which at the completion ofthe revolution of the crank 19 is withdrawn from engagement with thegear or driver 30, thereby stopping the crank in the position in whichit is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The trough section being withdrawn fromthe holder and another inserted in its place, the operations of theseveral parts of the ma chine are repeated as above explained. As shownin Fig. 8, only a portion of the fold 413 is spread or opened, leavingthe leaves or layers adjacent to its inner or closed end close together,so as to pinch and form a tight slip joint with the end of an adjoiningsection when it is inserted in the fold. A tight joint is thus madewithout soldering, and at the same time, longitudinal expansion andcontraction of the trough sections are provided for. I

In the formation of the trough sections or the like, the folds 43 arepressed and left tightly together, so that in order to enter the plainend of one section between the outer layers of the fold 43 of anothersection in assembling the sections, it is necessary to partially spreador open the outer layers of the folds.

Various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts maybe made without departing from the principle and scope of the inventionas defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a fold opening machine, the combination of a holder provided withmeans for clamping a section of eaves-trough or the like in placetherein, a reciprocating blade movable lengthwise of a trough sectionclamped in the holder and adapted on its advance to enter and open atransverse fold thereof, and means for actuating said blade.

2. In a fold opening machine the combination of a holder provided withmeans for clamping a section of eaves-trough or the like in placetherein, a reciprocating head movable toward and from the holder andlengthwise of a trough section clamped therein, and provided with aspreading blade adapted to enter and open a transverse end fold of thetrough section on the advance movement of the head, and means foractuating said head and clamping means in proper order.

3. In a fold opening machine the combination of a holder comprising astationary head and a clamping jaw movable toward and from said head, areciprocating head movable toward and from said holder and provided witha spreading blade adapted on its advance movement to enter and open atransverse end fold of an eaves-trough section or the like clamped insaid holder, a slide having an incline for operating the clamping jawand a crank connected with and adapted to actuate the reciprocating headand the slide.

4:. In a fold opening machine the combination of a holder comprising afixed head and a clamping jaw movable toward and from said head, areciprocating head movable toward and from said holder and provided witha spreading blade adapted on its advance movement to enter and open atransverse end fold of an eaves-trough section or the like clamped insaid holder, a reciprocating slide for operating the clamping jaw, and acrank connected with said reciprocating head and slide and adapted tooperate the slide in advance of the head.

5. In a'fold opening machine the combi nation of a holder having meansfor clamping a section of eaves-trough or the like in place therein, areciprocating head movable toward and from-said holder and provided witha spreading blade adapted on its advance movement to enter and open atransverse fold of an eaves-trough section or the like clamped in-saidholder, a crank connected with said head, and a movable part adapted byengagement therewith of a trough section or the like as it is insertedin the holder, to start the crank.

6. In a fold opening machine the combination of a holder, areciprocating spreading blade movable toward and from the holder andadapted on its advance to enter and open a transverse fold of aneavestrough section or the like in the holder, a crank connected withsaid blade, a rotary driver, a clutch for operatively connecting thecrank with the driver, a trip normally holding the clutch out ofengagement, and

a movable part connected with and adapted to withdraw the trip when atrough section or the like is inserted in the holder.

7. In a fold opening machine the combination of a holder having a fixedhead and a jaw movable toward and from the head,

a slide for operating said jaw, a reciprocating spreading blade movabletoward and from the holder and adapted on its advance to enter and opena transverse fold on an eavestrough section or the like in the holder,and a crank connected with said slide and having a lost motionconnection with said blade.

8. In a fold opening machine the combi-v nation of a holder comprising afixed convex semi-cylindrical head and a concave jaw approximatelyfitting and movable toward and from said head and having a recessforming a transverse shoulder in its con cave face, inwardly yieldingpresser pieces connected withv said head and projecting outwardly fromopposite sides of its convex face adjacent to one end thereof, areciprocating concave blade adapted on its advance to enter and open anexternal transverse fold on an eaves-trough section or the like confinedbetween the head and jaw with its fold in the recess of the jaw, andmeans for operating said jaw and blade.

9. In a fold opening machine the combination of a holder havingsemi-cylindrical concave and convex interfitting parts one of which ismovable toward and from the other, the concave part being recessedadjacent to one end to receive an external double fold at one end of aneaves-trough section or the like held between said parts and to form ashoulder for the fold to abut against,

a reeiprooative concave spreading blade In Witness whereof I heretoaffix my sigmovable toward and from said holder and nature in presenceof two Witnesses. adapted on its advance to enter and open said fold fora portion of its Width only PHILLIPP F. FLAGGE. next to the end of thetrough section or the like, the adjoining layers of the fold for theWitnesses:

remainder of its Width being closed, and CHAS. L. Gross,

means for actuating said blade. ALICE E. Gross.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D.

